http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #364 JULY 2018 // 43
furnished for command and control and
now provided with an electro-optical sensor
system for battlefield observation.
Two W-3AE aircraft are utilised by the
PJEM for aero-medical evacuation. These
carry emergency medical equipment and a
Nightsun searchlight. Two Mi-17AE helicopters
are similarly outfitted. These are the only
Hips that operate from Nowy Glinnik.
Primary user of Mi-8/17 is 1 DLot. A dozen
veteran Mi-8s – mainly Mi-8T versions, but
also some Mi-8Ps – remain in service. The
helicopters have been adapted for NVG use.
In contrast, the Mi-17s – the first of which
were delivered to Leźnica in 1989 – have
been retrofitted with more comprehensive
modifications. These comprise PNL-3
NVGs, VHF omnidirectional range/tactical
air navigation system/instrument landing
system (VOR/TACAN/ILS) receivers, GPS
receivers, S2-3a flight data recorders and
an integrated communications system
with four radio stations. Mi-17s from
subsequent deliveries ordered for the Afghan
mission underwent similar modifications.
Seven second-hand Mi-8MT-1V helicopters
were originally bought in Ukraine to be sold to
Iraq, but the transfer was never completed and
they ended up at Leźnica in 2006. They were
joined in 2010 by five brand-new examples
with unusually wide doors on both sides of the
fuselage. These Hips were divided between
1 DLot and the Siły Powietrzne’s (Polish Air
Force’s) 7. Eskadra Działań Specjalnych (7th
Special Operations Squadron) at Powidz.
These helicopters also have armour for
the fuselage, engine, crew and gunner
compartment. All are integrated with 0.3in
calibre M134 Miniguns, which can be mounted
on both sides as well as on the rear ramp.1 BLWL equipment
The 1 Brygada Lotnictwo Wojsk
Lądowych has three types of helicopter
at its disposal: Mi-24D/W, W-3PL
Głuszec and various models of Mi-2.
The Mi-24D Hind-D was initially based only
at Pruszcz but is now flying at Inowrocław too.
These helicopters originate from two sources:
some were delivered from the manufacturer
(in 1978 and 1984-85) while 18 were provided
from former East German stocks in 1996.
The latter transfer enabled two squadrons
to be equipped with the ‘flying tanks’.In the early 2000s, during a renovation
conducted at WZL-1 in Łódź, some of
the Mi-24Ds were retrofitted with GPS
receivers, infrared sensors, Ukrainian KT-1
Adros countermeasures systems and new
cabin lighting permitting the use of third-
generation NVGs (Polish PNL-3 type).
At one time it was expected that the Mi-24D
would be withdrawn from service, leaving
only the Mi-24W version in use. However,
current plans call for 1 BLWL to make
maximum use of these helicopters, aided
by refurbishments at WZL-1. Over time,
individual examples will be withdrawn on
reaching the end of their service lives.
Poland has operated the Mi-24W Hind-E
since 1986 (one more was delivered in 1991
as an attrition replacement and has a slightly
different configuration). Compared with the
Mi-24D, the ‘W’ has a different weapons
system and improved characteristics of the
TW3-117 engines, which offer better high-
altitude performance. The 16 airframes
delivered to Inowrocław underwent a
general renovation from 2008 and have
been modernised with equipment including
NL-3 NVGs, GPS receiver, integrated‘Afghan formation’ – a Mi-17-1V from the 25
BKPow’s 1 DLot escorted by a pair of ‘Hinds’ from
the 56 BLot. All Mi-17-1Vs can be equipped with
M134 Gatling guns mounted in the doors and on
the rear ramp. Filip ModrzejewskiA W-3PL Głuszec from the 56 BLot
warms up at Mirosławiec air base
before a night sortie. Bartek Bera